2018 Jaguar F-Type

By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com / Photos Jaguar Land Rover North America

Jaguar is broadening the appeal of the new F-TYPE with the introduction of the four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine. Already recognized as the most dynamically capable and performance oriented Jaguar, the F-TYPE sports car continues to evolve for 2018, with a fresh look and the addition of standard technology features previously unavailable.

Exterior
A key aim of the design process for the refreshed 2018 F-TYPE was to establish a stronger, purer statement for the front-end form of the F-TYPE, while also providing clearer visual differentiation between the different models. The addition of full LED headlights and slimline seats make the car’s aesthetics even more striking and significantly enhance the driving experience.

The grille shape and overall design of the F-TYPE are unchanged, remaining as ever, key elements in the sports car’s DNA. However, for the 2018 model year, designers paid attention to the bumpers and air intakes, introducing bolder surfaces and simpler forms with discreet signature features subtly enhancing the front-end form, providing greater differentiation across the model range.

The new full LED headlights help to signal the greater clarity in the vehicle’s design language. The distinctive Jaguar J-Blade daytime running lights are retained, and these now double as the direction indicators, with the lamp’s eyelid indexing with the hood’s cutline to further accentuate the lights’ multilayered graphics; In place of its predecessor’s double shark gill air intakes, the new F-TYPE features large, powerful single apertures with a lozenge mesh design.

In addition the LED rear light clusters have been subtly updated as well. The characteristic light graphic of a horizontal line intersecting a roundel, a feature inherited from the iconic Jaguar E-type is now accentuated by darker lenses to give the car a more purposeful appearance.

Interior
Like the exterior, the interior of the 2018 F-TYPE, evolves into a purer, more concentrated expression of the car’s original elegance and sportiness. The Jaguar interior design focused on refining a handful of key elements to create a greater sense of harmony in the finishes, enhance the sense of balance between luxury and performance, and to introduce new material options that give the car a more exotic feel.

One of the most significant upgrades is the addition of new lightweight slimline seats which combine an ergonomically-optimized form with added comfort. The seats’ flowing contours and sculpted surfaces also contribute to the F-TYPE interior’s heightened sense of poise.

The seat frames are pressure diecast magnesium alloy a material with the high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent formability required for the ergonomic form of the vehicle’s new seat design, the more supportive backrest bolster and the seat’s upper curvature provide the driver with additional lateral support, heightening the sense of connection between the driver and the car for a more rewarding driving experience.

Jaguar has carefully refined the interior to produce a more concentrated expression of the vehicle’s original style. Key elements such as the engine start button and gearshift paddles now receive performance-focused Satin Chrome finishes. A Noble Chrome finish is applied as a jewel-like accent to the doors, air vents and steering wheel, bringing stronger visual harmony to the interior design.

INCONTROL INFOTAINMENT AND CONNECTIVITY
Offered for the first time on the Jaguar F-TYPE, the advanced Jaguar InControl Touch Pro infotainment system is now standard equipment across the entire F-TYPE range for 2018 model year. Designed and developed around a powerful quad-core processor, high-speed Solid-State Drive and an ultra-fast Ethernet network, Touch Pro delivers outstanding performance and functionality and an intuitive user experience.

An available data connection enables access to a suite of smart, location-based features. For example, enter a destination and Fuel Finder will check if there’s enough fuel in the tank to get you there. If not, this will be flagged and filling stations on the route that are within range are displayed on the map: tapping on one of them is all it takes to add it as a waypoint. Fuel prices can also be shown.

Commute Mode learns your daily drive, so it can offer alternative routes to avoid congestion using historical and real-time traffic information. But if you do get caught in a jam, Share ETA can send your destination, current location and estimated time of arrival to selected contacts via email or text message. If your ETA slips, the system can automatically follow-up with an update.

The smart navigation features of Touch Pro can also help you as your journey is coming to an end: Arrival Mode adds a 360° interactive view of your destination alongside the map display when you’re within a mile of your destination it can even show you where the nearest parking garages and then direct you to them.

ALL-NEW FOUR-CYLINDER INGENIUM POWERTRAIN
Jaguar is broadening the appeal of the 2018 Jaguar F-TYPE with the introduction of an all-new 2.0-liter 296hp turbocharged four-cylinder Ingenium engine.

The powerful all-aluminum Ingenium gasoline engine is the perfect match for the all-aluminum F-TYPE, and expands the powertrain line-up from a 296hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, to the range topping 575hp supercharged 5.0-liter V8 a breadth of performance unrivalled in the sports car segment; Just like the supercharged six and eight-cylinder engines, the turbocharged Ingenium four-cylinder delivers an exhilarating driving experience.

The new model retains the performance expected from the F-TYPE; the new powertrain can accelerate the F-TYPE from 0-60mph in only 5.4 seconds and achieve a top speed of 155mph. The turbocharged engine’s high maximum torque of 295-lb.ft., generated from just 1,500rpm, together with the eight-speed Quickshift transmission, delivers exceptional response throughout the rev range.

Summary
Since its launch in 2012, the all-aluminum two-seater has firmly established itself as a strong competitor in its sports car segment. The balance of seductive design, stunning performance and outstanding dynamics has always made the F-TYPE unique.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price starts at $59,900.00, the one I drove included the Fixed Panoramic Roof ($1,175.00), Exterior Color: British Racing Green ($615.00), Drive Package ($850.00), Climate Package 1 ($1,380.00), Auto-Dimming, Power Fold, Heated Door Mirrors with Memory ($185.00), Powered Tailgate ($410.00), Switchable active exhaust ($225.00), Configurable Ambient Interior Lighting ($255.00), Air Quality Sensor ($80.00), Illuminated metal front treadplates with Jaguar script ($460.00), Meridian Surround Sound System ($870.00), Keyless entry ($460.00), Front parking aid ($285.00), and it came in at $65,285.00.
mlezcano@carsntravel.com

Posted in CAR REVIEWS, Jaguar.

Emilio Lezcano

Journalist - Editor - Photographer
Professional Race Car Driver

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